"The best of the worst!"

“I’m really weak...”

                                         “I’m not the smartest...”

                                                                          “...But I’ll try my best for you!”

         “You chose to believe in me... This failure of a hero.”

((Posting at a more reasonable hour this time and out of character. I know I’ve been gone but plenty of things happened during December.))

A good six hours goes by before Aqua decides to wake up. Yawning and stretching to then crawl her way up to Astolfo’s face. Giving her favorite nap buddy kitten kisses to his chin and cheeks. Her cold nose sneaking to his neck to then give his neck more kitten kisses.

Perhaps Astolfo will give her kisses back? Or maybe a treat?

Six hours and he still would have gone for more, Astolfo when he decides he wants to enjoy the pleasure of sleeping, he can literally spend as much as a whole day away if so whatever whim dictated it, or not interrupted.

Aqua’s little escape from the comfortable confines did not shake him awake, what obviously did was that tiny bit of an ice cube known as Aqua’s nose pressing affection all over. It was ticklish and was certainly effective.

Aqua is a happy cuddle companion to purr as she falls asleep. Adelha soon sneaking a soft pillow under Astolfo’s head to then lay a fuzzy pink blanket over the Rider. Giving Astolfo a kiss on the forehead before she goes back to her work.

His sleep unbothered in the slightest, his head goes up with ease to then be placed on the pillow, then Aqua is covered in the double layer of his cape and the blanket. Astolfo’s smile doesn’t fade as the pair is left to what is already a colder day of the imminent winter.

...But really. Astolfo is to never be left without supervision for any extended period of time.

He can end up flirting with anyone out of control unless stopped, he might pig out at the cafeteria and join in the fun of the other enthusiasts of the area, he might party up with the child Servants as the only responsible adult on a more dangerous incursion consideration...

Adelha sets Aqua the kitten beside Astolfo for the kitten to snuggle Astolfo.

He was lying on his stomach as the kittin is placed nearby, the small climb using one of his thighs as the feline burrows under his cape, not disturbing the knight’s sleep as bump forms right at the center of his back.

Somehow, this has caused him to stop rolling outright, as if he had some sort of control during his slumber.

...Ah?

He’s rolling in his sleep. The thing is, he can’t recall where he even crashed from the moment he closed his eyes.

((To whomever it may concern, sorry I haven’t been here for over a week this time.))

((My dad’s work has finally started to really flare up again after a whole year and a half after having nothing. His two employees were logically let go after pandemic broke out, and until it’s all fully restored in the future, I have to fill for both. I handle computer matters and more, plus helping count material for him to assemble packages and outright accompanying him around town or out of it really early some days.))

((It’s been tough readjusting and basically committing to having a “casual job” of sorts and sometimes I’m tired and have no real reasons to open up this blue site.))

((I will be honest that I am not sure how I will take things going forward given also how my activity dropped as a whole, but I figure I would leave at least a full update at last.))

He’s looking left, he’s looking right. All seems safe, yes?

  Mukuro gave a small nod and readied herself to be picked up by him。 Were this any other situation, Mukuro would’ve been astonished that he could easily pick her up, but right now, Mukuro just really wanted to lay down in bed and rest。 She just wanted to be comfortable。

  As she was being carried to her room, Mukuro languidly draped her arms around his neck and her head lulled to the side to rest on his shoulder。

「Thank you, Astolfo。。。」 she spoke softly, exhaustion very heavy in her voice。 There was a high chance that she’d be asleep as soon as her body hit her bed。 But she wanted to remain awake just long enough to still be held before fully falling asleep。 

「I really。。。 appreciate this。」

It was comprehensible there was no real reaction, she was beyond spent at this point -- Anyone would easily take note of it. Not that it really mattered much nor that he was expecting anything, he had more pressing concerns, like, well, her. One hundred percent.

Smiling all the way as she comfortably wrapped all over him, it was but a short trip onto her room, being able to hold her one armed to open her door; every little part of the process, really.

Sooner rather than later, he was about to place his Master upon her bed, but that not being enough... She desired company, no? “There’s nothing to thank me for, Master. I told you so.” Reaffirming while she still was conscious...

“...Excuse my intrusion.” In complete politeness he normally reserved for when it mattered most, like this situation, instead: He climbed onto Mukuro’s bed, on his knees got to the center, lied her down extremely carefully... Then followed suit and lied down by her side.

  As she listened, Mukuro felt the weight of exhaustion falling on her eyelids。 The sensation of being held so comfortably tightly as well as just having cried her eyes out, her body had reached it’s limit of staying awake。 It took a lot of energy from Mukuro to muster up a small nod, even she knew that the walls she had built up weren’t a permanent thing。 Much like actual walls, time and other forces would erode them down until the smallest crack was what would cause a collapse。 

  When he asked if he could carry her to bed, Mukuro nodded again。

「Yes please, I don’t。。。 think I could do it even if I tried,」 she gave out a weak laugh。 「Could you。。。 also stay with me as I sleep？ Please？」 Her mind told her she was sounding very needy but at the same time, Astolfo made it clear that he was here for her should she need this type of comfort。

  She wouldn’t admit it, and probably wouldn’t admit such a thing anytime soon, but having the additional comfort as she slept would be a big help。 And it would probably result in an actual restful sleep for the first time in a month。

After a breakdown like that, who wouldn’t be exhausted after the rush of emotion finally began subsiding? Especially given the hour. He should have faded into spirit form and remained waiting if called at any point, but the last little ‘patrol’ around her living place led him here and this whole situation. But all of that aside, when she agreed and outright asked right back if he could? There was nothing more that needed saying.

“Say no more, Master. Easy now... Easy now...” With one last beaming smile, crouched lower, wrapping one arm behind her knees carefully, the other around her back... “Here we go...” One quick, three second heads up, and off the ground she went. As light as a feather. Clearly no struggles in picking her up.

The kitten purrs like a little motor to lean her head into those gentle pets. Fur that is soft as silken threads signifying that Aqua got a brushing earlier. The kitten soon giving Astolfo’s finger happy kitten kisses to show her appreciation for such devoted attention and favor from the Rider. Moving her head to boop her head into Astolfo’s hands for more.

Adelha watches with warm amusement to finish her own cinnamon roll. Those fierce azure blue eyes gazing at the two with a kind of deep appreciation. Like this moment is a real treasure. But soon, Adelha stands to collect the plates and bring them to the kitchen sink. Washing them with an orange and lemon scented dish soap as she speaks openly. “Aqua seems to favor Riders the most out of all the souls here in Chaldea. She will visit with Marie like they are discussing how to properly rule over a kingdom. Or I keep catching her following Ryouma around as Oryou glares at her. Yet the one she is all but constantly sneaking off to visit is Iskander. Calling her a ‘good luck girl’ as the excuse for stealing her away to whatever video game night he is planning. But if you ever find Aqua wandering around or following you, just be sure you don’t spoil her too much.”

Aqua soon lays in Astolfo’s lap to wiggle and mew. The obvious request for tummy rubs making Adelha grin to chuckle. “Ah. She’s bumped you up to tummy tickler already. Not surprising. She’ll be steaking your socks and hiding under your bed by the end of the day.”

The grooming was immediately noticeable, Adelha took good care of her, not that it was surprising, he simply continued providing more affection as it was being requested, anyone who wanted more of what was his bottomless pit of displays of love so willingly would always get them without a single issue.

Glancing over to her finishing and getting up, making her way to the sink, he still remained in full focus to continue providing the desired caresses and lightly increasing the intensity according to the apparent demand. He still was paying full attention and heard the particularity about her and the Servants the feline seemed to favor, and what did that cause? Especially the last bit of information? “Oh? Then I have the honor of being quite the most fortunate of the twelve paladins? Because do look at this!” It is then that right on cue, as his promotion was earned that he did not delay to get to work on it, rubbing her little stomach as gently scratches began going up and down Aqua’s body proper.

Aqua the kitten finds Astolfo to pounce on the Rider’s foot. She has caught Astolfo.

go back to bed

He’s peeking out from his room. At midnight. Wondering what is going on and who is awake.